Seasoned food, seasoning, and method for seasoning a food product

Abstract

A seasoned food product, a seasoning, and a method for seasoning and/or preserving a food product is described in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The charge of seasoning has a mean particle size of at least approximately less than 20 microns. In another embodiment, the present invention is a seasoning comprising a first seasoning component including a salt and a second seasoning component selected for at least one of complementing the first seasoning component and reducing the amount of the first seasoning component required for flavoring a food product. The first seasoning component and second seasoning component have a mean particle size of at least approximately less than 20 microns.

1 . A seasoned food product for flavor delivery, comprising:
 a food product having a first perceived taste impact, and   a portion of seasoning for flavoring said food product, having a mean distribution curve particle size less than and equal to 20 microns,   wherein the portion of seasoning provides a second perceived taste impact greater than a third perceived taste impact, which would be provided by the same portion of the seasoning having a mean distribution curve particle size greater than 20 microns.   
     
     
         2 . The seasoned food product in  claim 1 , wherein the portion of seasoning includes at least one of sodium chloride and potassium chloride, and further comprising a second portion of seasoning having a mean distribution curve particle size of greater than 20 microns. 
     
     
         3 . The seasoned food product in  claim 1 , further comprising a second portion of seasoning selected for at least one of complementing the first portion of seasoning and reducing the amount of the first charge of seasoning required for flavoring the food product. 
     
     
         4 . The seasoned food product in  claim 3 , wherein the second portion of seasoning includes at least one of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, a bulking agent, and a bitterness masking agent. 
     
     
         5 . The seasoned food product in  claim 4 , wherein the bulking agent comprises at least one of starch and a starch derivative. 
     
     
         6 . The seasoned food product in  claim 3 , wherein the first portion of seasoning is deposited at least partially around the second portion of seasoning. 
     
     
         7 . The seasoned food product in  claim 6 , wherein the first portion of seasoning includes a salt and the second portion of seasoning includes at least one of a starch and a starch derivative. 
     
     
         8 . The seasoned food product in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the charge of seasoning is deposited on the food product. 
     
     
         9 . The seasoned food product in  claim 8 , wherein the charge of seasoning is deposited on the food product via a sprayed oil and seasoning dispersion. 
     
     
         10 . The seasoned food product in  claim 1 , wherein the charge of seasoning includes at least one of a natural sea salt, a manufactured sea salt, and a flavored salt. 
     
     
         11 . The seasoned food product in  claim 1 , further comprising a cookware release composition, wherein the cookware release composition functions as a carrier for the first charge of seasoning. 
     
     
         12 . The seasoned food product in  claim 1 , wherein the food product is at least 50% fat free. 
     
     
         13 . A seasoned microwave popcorn product for flavor delivery, comprising:
 a charge of popcorn kernels having a first perceived taste impact, and   a first charge of seasoning for flavoring the charge of popcorn kernels having a mean distribution curve particle size less than and equal to 20 microns,   wherein the charge of seasoning provides a second perceived taste impact greater than a third perceived taste impact, which would be provided by a charge of the seasoning having a mean distribution curve particle size greater than 20 microns.   
     
     
         14 . The seasoned microwave popcorn product in  claim 13 , further comprising a bag for containing the charge of popcorn kernels and the charge of seasoning. 
     
     
         15 . The seasoned microwave popcorn product in  claim 13 , wherein the charge of seasoning includes at least one of sodium chloride and potassium chloride. 
     
     
         16 . The seasoned microwave popcorn product in  claim 13 , further comprising a second charge of seasoning selected for at least one of complementing the first charge of seasoning and reducing the amount of the first charge of seasoning required for flavoring the food product. 
     
     
         17 . The seasoned microwave popcorn product in  claim 16 , wherein the second charge of seasoning includes at least one of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, a bulking agent, and a bitterness masking agent. 
     
     
         18 . The seasoned microwave popcorn product in  claim 17 , wherein the bulking agent comprises at least one of starch and a starch derivative. 
     
     
         19 . The seasoned microwave popcorn product in  claim 16 , wherein the first charge of seasoning is deposited at least partially around the second charge of seasoning. 
     
     
         20 . The seasoned microwave popcorn product in  claim 19 , wherein the first charge of seasoning includes salt and the second charge of seasoning includes at least one of starch and a starch derivative. 
     
     
         21 . The seasoned microwave popcorn product in  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the charge of seasoning is deposited on the charge of popcorn kernels. 
     
     
         22 . The seasoned food product in  claim 13 , further comprising a cookware release composition, wherein the cookware release composition functions as a carrier for the first charge of seasoning. 
     
     
         23 . The seasoned food product in  claim 13 , wherein the food product is at least 50% fat free. 
     
     
         24 . A seasoned ready to eat popcorn product for flavor delivery, comprising:
 a charge of popped popcorn kernels having a first perceived taste impact, and   a charge of seasoning for flavoring the charge of popcorn kernels having a mean distribution curve particle size less than and equal to 20 microns,   wherein the charge of seasoning provides a second perceived taste impact greater than a third perceived taste impact, which would be provided by a charge of the seasoning having a mean distribution curve particle size greater than 20 microns.   
     
     
         25 . The seasoned ready to eat popcorn product in  claim 24 , wherein the charge of seasoning includes at least one of sodium chloride and potassium chloride. 
     
     
         26 . The seasoned ready to eat popcorn product in  claim 24 , further comprising a second charge of seasoning selected for at least one of complementing the first charge of seasoning and reducing the amount of the first charge of seasoning required for flavoring the food product, wherein the second charge of seasoning has a particle size less than 20 microns. 
     
     
         27 . The seasoned ready to eat popcorn product in  claim 26 , wherein the second charge of seasoning includes at least one of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, a bulking agent, and a bitterness masking agent. 
     
     
         28 . The seasoned ready to eat popcorn product in  claim 27 , wherein the bulking agent comprises at least one of starch and a starch derivative. 
     
     
         29 . The seasoned ready to eat popcorn product in  claim 26 , wherein the first charge of seasoning is deposited at least partially around the second charge of seasoning. 
     
     
         30 . The seasoned ready to eat popcorn product in  claim 29 , wherein the first charge of seasoning includes salt and the second charge of seasoning includes at least one of starch and a starch derivative. 
     
     
         31 . The seasoned ready to eat popcorn product  claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of the charge of seasoning is deposited on the charge of popcorn kernels. 
     
     
         32 . The seasoned ready to eat popcorn product in  claim 24 , wherein the charge of seasoning is deposited on the charge of popcorn kernels via at least one of spraying and sputtering. 
     
     
         33 . The seasoned ready to eat popcorn product in  claim 24 , wherein the salt includes at least one of a natural sea salt, a manufactured sea salt, and a flavored salt. 
     
     
         34 . The seasoned ready to eat popcorn product in  claim 24 , further comprising a cookware release composition, wherein the cookware release composition functions as a carrier for the first charge of seasoning. 
     
     
         35 . The seasoned ready to eat popcorn product in  claim 24 , wherein the seasoned ready to eat popcorn product is at least 50% fat free. 
     
     
         36 . A seasoning for flavor delivery, comprising:
 a seasoning component including a salt having a mean distribution curve particle size less than and equal to 20 microns,   wherein the seasoning component provides a second perceived taste impact greater than a third perceived taste impact, which would be provided by a charge of the seasoning component having a mean distribution curve particle size greater than 20 microns.   
     
     
         37 . The seasoning in  claim 36 , wherein the first seasoning component includes at least one of sodium chloride and potassium chloride. 
     
     
         38 . The seasoning in  claim 36 , further comprising a second seasoning component selected for at least one of complementing the first seasoning component and reducing the amount of the first seasoning component required for flavoring the food product, wherein the second seasoning component has a mean particle size less than 20 microns. 
     
     
         39 . The seasoning in  claim 38 , wherein the second seasoning component includes at least one of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, a bulking agent, and a bitterness masking agent. 
     
     
         40 . The seasoning in  claim 39 , wherein the bulking agent comprises at least one of starch and a starch derivative. 
     
     
         41 . The seasoning in  claim 38 , wherein the first seasoning component is deposited at least partially around the second seasoning component. 
     
     
         42 . The seasoning in  claim 38 , wherein the first charge of seasoning includes salt and the second charge of seasoning includes at least one of starch and a starch derivative. 
     
     
         43 . The seasoning in  claim 36 , wherein the salt includes at least one of a natural sea salt, a manufactured sea salt, and a flavored salt. 
     
     
         44 . The seasoning in  claim 36 , further comprising a cookware  1 o release composition, wherein the cookware release composition functions as a carrier for the first charge of seasoning. 
     
     
         45 . The seasoning in  claim 36 , wherein the food product is at least 50% fat free. 
     
     
         46 . A method for seasoning a food product for flavor delivery, comprising:
 selecting a food product,   selecting a seasoning component having a mean particle size less than and equal 20 microns, and   applying the seasoning component to the food product,   wherein the seasoning component provides a second perceived taste impact greater than a third perceived taste impact, which would be provided by a charge of the seasoning component having a mean particle size greater than 20 microns.   
     
     
         47 . The method in  claim 46 , wherein the first seasoning component includes at least one of sodium chloride and potassium chloride. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising selecting a second seasoning component for at least one of complementing the first seasoning component and reducing the amount of the first seasoning component required for seasoning the food product, wherein the second seasoning component has a mean particle size less than 20 microns. 
     
     
         49 . The method in  claim 48 , further comprising at least partially covering the second seasoning component with the first seasoning component. 
     
     
         50 . The method in  claim 48 , wherein the second seasoning component includes at least one of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, a bulking agent, and a bitterness masking agent. 
     
     
         51 . The method in  claim 50 , wherein the bulking agent comprises at Least one of starch and a starch derivative. 
     
     
         52 . The method in  claim 48 , wherein the first seasoning component and the second seasoning component are introduced to the food product using a non-aqueous vacuum brine system. 
     
     
         53 . The seasoning in  claim 46 , further comprising a cookware release composition, wherein the cookware release composition functions as a carrier for the first charge of seasoning. 
     
     
         54 . The seasoning in  claim 46 , wherein the food product is at least 50% fat free. 
     
     
         55 . A seasoning for flavor delivery, consisting essentially of sodium chloride, having a mean particle size greater than or equal to five microns and less than or equal to twenty microns. 
     
     
         56 . The seasoning of  claim 55 , wherein the sodium chloride has a mean particle size of ten microns. 
     
     
         57 . The seasoning of  claim 55 , wherein the sodium chloride includes at least one of dendritic sodium chloride, sodium chloride derived from the Alberger process, and sodium chloride pressed into flakes. 
     
     
         58 . The seasoning in  claim 55 , wherein the seasoning is encapsulated by a shell including a non-aqueous material. 
     
     
         59 . The seasoning in  claim 58 , wherein the non-aqueous material includes at least one of a cooking oil, a vegetable oil, a seasoned oil, butter, tropical oil, and margarine. 
     
     
         60 . The seasoning in  claim 58 , wherein the non-aqueous material is a non-nutritive oil. 
     
     
         61 . The seasoning in  claim 58 , wherein a core of at least one of a starch and a starch derivative is at least partially encapsulated by a shell of the seasoning. 
     
     
         62 . A seasoning for flavor delivery, comprising at least one of sodium chloride and potassium chloride, wherein the sodium chloride has a mean particle size greater than or equal to five microns and less than or equal to twenty microns. 
     
     
         63 . The seasoning of  claim 62 , wherein the sodium chloride has a mean particle size of 10 microns. 
     
     
         64 . The seasoning of  claim 62 , wherein the seasoning includes at least one of dendritic sodium chloride, sodium chloride derived from the Alberger process, and sodium chloride pressed into flakes. 
     
     
         65 . The seasoning of  claim 62 , further comprising at least one of a bulking agent and a bitterness masking agent. 
     
     
         66 . The seasoning of  claim 65 , wherein the bulking agent comprises at least one of a starch and a starch derivative. 
     
     
         67 . The seasoning in  claim 58 , wherein the seasoning is encapsulated by a shell including a non-aqueous material. 
     
     
         68 . The seasoning in  claim 67 , wherein the non-aqueous material includes at least one of a cooking oil, a vegetable oil, a seasoned oil, butter, non-nutritive oil, and margarine. 
     
     
         69 . The seasoning in  claim 62 , wherein a core of at least one of a starch and a starch derivative is at least partially encapsulated by a shell of the seasoning. 
     
     
         70 . A seasoning for flavor delivery, comprising sea salt, having a mean distribution curve particle size greater than or equal to five microns and less than or equal to twenty microns. 
     
     
         71 . The seasoning of  claim 70 , wherein the sea salt is at least one of natural and manmade. 
     
     
         72 . The seasoning of  claim 70 , wherein the sea salt has a mean particle size of 10 microns. 
     
     
         73 . The seasoning of  claim 70 , further comprising a bulking agent. 
     
     
         74 . The seasoning of  claim 73 , wherein the bulking agent comprises at least one of a starch and a starch derivative. 
     
     
         75 . The seasoning in  claim 70 , wherein the seasoning is encapsulated by a shell including a non-aqueous material. 
     
     
         76 . The seasoning in  claim 75 , wherein the non-aqueous material includes at least one of a cooking oil, a vegetable oil, a seasoned oil, butter, non-nutritive oil, and margarine. 
     
     
         77 . The seasoning in  claim 70 , wherein a core of at least one of a starch and a starch derivative is at least partially encapsulated by a shell of the seasoning.